Melbourne Symphony Orchestra | Emma Donovan – Take Me to the River
10 July, 2026, Hamer Hall, Melbourne, VIC
On a bitterly cold Melbourne evening—10 July to be precise—we ventured out through a blanket of fog so dense it could easily have auditioned for a Dickens novel. Visibility was at a premium, but spirits remained high as we made our way to Hamer Hall, confident that the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra would provide all the warmth the weather had so conspicuously forgotten.
And warmth it certainly delivered.
While much of the Northern Hemisphere had its collective gaze fixed firmly on the drama of the FIFA World Cup and the manicured perfection of Wimbledon, another contest was quietly taking place here in Melbourne: the eternal battle between winter and the arts. Fortunately, music won.
After all, football crowns champions, tennis produces legends, but a memorable concert lingers in the soul long after the final whistle has blown and Centre Court has fallen silent.
Hamer Hall
Hamer Hall, Melbourne’s premier concert venue, opened in 1982 as the Melbourne Concert Hall and was designed by renowned architect Sir Roy Grounds as part of the Victorian Arts Centre. Renamed in 2004 in honour of former Victorian Premier Sir Rupert Hamer, it underwent a major refurbishment in 2012. Today, it remains a magnificent home for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and one of Australia’s finest musical spaces.
The Artist: Emma Donovan
This evening’s guest artist was the remarkable Indigenous soul singer Emma Donovan, one of Australia’s most distinctive and compelling voices. A proud Gumbaynggirr and Yamatji woman, Donovan has spent more than two decades captivating audiences with her unique blend of soul, gospel, country and Indigenous musical traditions.
Whether performing with her own ensembles or collaborating with major orchestras, she brings authenticity, grace and a profound connection to Country, culture and community. Her artistry is built not merely on vocal ability, but on storytelling, lived experience and an extraordinary emotional generosity.
The Program
Once again, the MSO demonstrated its commitment to adventurous and engaging programming—finding fresh ways to broaden its audience while reinforcing its relevance in a rapidly changing cultural landscape.
The orchestra continues to look towards the future, exploring how classical institutions can remain meaningful in an era shaped by artificial intelligence, social media and shifting patterns of audience engagement. Yet this evening’s message was beautifully simple: music’s power lies in human connection.
The MSO’s NAIDOC Week celebration, Take Me to the River, conducted with insight and quiet authority by the trailblazing Aaron Wyatt, was a vibrant tribute to the great soul tradition. Featuring sumptuous orchestral arrangements by Alex Turley, the program embraced classics by Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers, Sam Cooke, Paul Simon and Archie Roach.
Through Emma Donovan’s heartfelt interpretations, these timeless songs became a moving celebration of culture, resilience, memory and hope.
The Performance
Emma Donovan possesses that rare gift of making every song feel deeply personal. Her velvety, soulful voice is effortlessly expressive, her phrasing unhurried and beautifully judged, allowing each lyric room to breathe.
Elegantly understated in appearance yet commanding in presence, she established an immediate rapport with both orchestra and audience through warmth, humour and disarming authenticity. There was a natural generosity in her communication—an artist completely at ease, sharing rather than simply performing.
Whether delivering tender ballads or joyous soul classics, Donovan sang with conviction, emotional honesty and an infectious sense of connection. The result was a performance that transcended genre and became something far more universal.
As the final notes faded inside Hamer Hall, it was clear that this was not merely a concert—it was a celebration of story, identity and the enduring ability of music to bring people together.
And on a freezing Melbourne night, that was exactly the warmth we had come looking for.
